The Voice in the Hollow

The Voice in the Hollow is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant short film by Miguel Ortega and Tran Ma. Rendered in Unreal Engine 5, it is set in an African-inspired fantasy world, the story centres on two sisters navigating a complex relationship marked by little love but quite a deal of mutual envy. Their bond is tested to the breaking point when one of them encounters an ancient and malevolent force in the heart of a mysterious jungle which offers her everything she ever wanted...

The film showcases some incredibly atmospheric storytelling, combining rich visuals with haunting sound design to immerse us in its eerie and enchanting world. The themes of sisterhood and jealousy are explored with depth, making the characters' emotional journeys compelling and relatable. The animation and production design, reminiscent of handcrafted artwork, add a layer of authenticity and beauty to this dark fable.  I though that the makers had used a real African language but it turns out that it is (a very authentic sounding) conlang – akin to, say, Elvish in Lord of the Rings.

While brief, the film leaves a lasting impression with its blend of myth, emotion, and suspense. If you are a fan of folklore-inspired narratives and evocative short films then press the play button – you won’t  be disappointed…

Gedi – Kenya’s Hidden History Revealed

Image Credit Flickr User Viaggi Spensierati

The thirteenth century was one of turmoil. The crusades were in full swing, the Mongol empire under Ghengis Khan swept forever westwards while Marco Polo turned his own eyes towards the east.

Meanwhile in Kenya, East Africa, a group of enterprising people began to build a settlement which would endure for over three hundred years. Gedi, a sophisticated coral-brick built town belies the perception many have about this part of Africa - and its architecture - before the arrival of Europeans. Take a look at Kenya's hidden history revealed.

Image Credit Flickr User malczyk

Namaqualand – South Africa’s Daisy Sensation

Namaqualand is dry for most of the year, an arid almost desert landscape which extends along South Africa’s western coast for 600 miles. Yet when the rains are good, something like a miracle happens.  Water, the driving force of all nature, soaks in to the parched earth.  An uncountable host of flowers materialize as if from nowhere, creating an extraordinary eruption of color, transforming the countryside and dazzling the eye.

Image Credit Flickr User mmavocado

Ganvié - Lake City of Africa

This is not a picture of a flood. This is Ganvié, in the Republic of Benin, the largest collection of lake dwellings in Africa. 20,000 people call Ganvié’s stilt supported dwellings home.  The city, in the middle of lake Nokoué, is not a recent construct however. 

Ganvié is up to five hundred years old. Sometimes called the Venice of Africa, like the Italian city its first inhabitants set up home there out of sheer necessity.

Image Credit Flickr User Javier Sanchez

Image Credit Flickr User Laurence Thurion

At the beginning of the seventeenth century the country was called Dahomey and was one of the most powerful states in West Africa. The major ethnic and linguistic group was the Fon and they had made a deal with the Portuguese. Rather than their own people being captured and sold in to slavery they made a contract with the Portuguese to hunt and sell tribes people from smaller ethnic groups.

The Monument to African Renaissance – Magnificent Symbol or Colossal Folly?

At one hundred and fifty meters in height the Monument to African Renaissance dominates the skyline of the Senegalese capital of Dakar. Its scale is quite breath-taking: new monuments of this size are rare and this is the largest statue in Africa.  

Yet although it was billed as a celebration of the continent’s renaissance it has become something of a scandal in the economically distressed African republic. Unveiled in 2010, it may be a couple of lifetimes before this symbol of a desired renaissance is rehabilitated.